Updates so far

I have now submitted three/four thesis chapter drafts to my supervisors, with one more to write before I tackle my introduction and conclusion!

• 1. Introduction (part-drafted)
• 2. The Reception of Ancient Goddesses ✔
• 3. Isis (case study) ✔
• 4. Aphrodite (case study)✔
• 5. Towards a Mutually Beneficial Relationship (in process)
• 6. Conclusions (not started)
  

I have one more questionnaire to release for my upcoming section 5, where I am going to delve deeper into the sources of tension between Goddess devotees, scholars, and heritage professionals, and suggestions from each community for moving towards a more mutually beneficial relationship. This questionnaire will be focused on devotee engagement with heritage sites and museums.

My previous two questionnaires will remain open until the start of my final editing process (expected January 2023), so please do continue sharing them!

So far I have had the privilege to interview 21 devotees through video call and email, and have had around 200 questionnaire responses. I still welcome more interviewees, as well as photographic submissions of altars and GS material culture.

Isis at Marathon, Greece

 

Some of you may be wondering what has happened with my third case study on Sekhmet: owing to a limited word count, however, this will need to be published in the eventual thesis monograph (fingers crossed) and/or edited for submission to an academic journal. I very much enjoyed writing that chapter, and had some great responses from Sekhmet devotees - so I promise, this will still be published, though separate to the thesis.

In other news, I have just returned from a week in Greece, spent with my partner exploring as many heritage sites and museums as we could! I will endeavour to share some of my highlights on this blog in due course - especially those relating to Greek goddesses.

I have also signed for a training course this November, focused on Digital Heritage, which I am sure will be of benefit to my ethnographic research, as well as future career prospects.

For now, onto the next chapter!